Archdiocesan Catechetical Leaders Association (ACLA)

The Archdiocesan Catechetical Leaders Association (ACLA) was founded by Washington’s former archbishop, Cardinal James A. Hickey, in 1994. The mission of the Association is to foster the personal, professional, and spiritual growth of catechetical leaders in the Church of Washington.

Goals

  • To address the ongoing spiritual and professional needs and responsibilities of its members.
  • To encourage collaboration with the Archbishop, his auxiliary bishops and the Archdiocesan Office for Religious Education in handing on the Catholic faith through parish catechetical programs.
  • To improve communication and networking with those Archdiocesan offices that impact life-long faith formation in parishes.

Membership Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional development in the areas of theology, catechetics, liturgy and pastoral administration.
  • All expenses associated with both the general and regional ACLA meetings.
  • Scholarships up to $200 annually for approved courses, conferences and workshops.
  • Opportunities for spiritual growth through regional days of recollection and an annual ACLA retreat. (A portion of the cost of this annual retreat is covered by the Association for dues-paying members).
  • Organizational membership in the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL).

Executive Committee

President: Mary Beaudoin
301-762-2143, ext. 124
mbeaudoin@straphaels.org

Vice President: Sally Daniel
301-530-1640, ext. 12
sally.daniel@stjanedechantal.org

Treasurer: Jill Kalinski
202-337-4835, ext. 14 or dre@olvparishdc.org

Regional Representatives:
Calvert County
Julie Benjamin
410-414-8304, ext. 23 or
religioused@jesusdivineword.org

Charles County Representative Vacant

Montgomery Co/NW DC
Virginia Cohen
301-622-1122 or dre@sjbsilverspring.org

Mary Theresa Heneghan
301-881-1380, ext. 309 or mtheneghan@aol.com

Prince George's County
Cathy Zeigler
301-735-5262, ext. 17 or caziegler7@yahoo.com

St. Mary's County
V. Janet Harmon
301-904-4760 or janet.harmon@gmail.com
Leonard Wathen
301-475-8064, ext. 16 or lwathen@saintaloysiuschurch.org

District of Columbia
Michael Howard
202-529-2147 or howardetsm@yahoo.com
Pat Waddell
202-678-3709, ext 11 or patw@stachurch.org

Hispanic Region
Enrique Soros
301-530-8027 or e@schoenstatt.biz
Elias Blanco
240-643-0009 or emblanco84@aol.com